Carnegie Mellon Plans to Build Campus in Rwanda
By THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
Published: September 20, 2011
Summary
Carnegie Mellon University, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will open a campus in Kigali, Rwanda in fall 2012. The first group will consist of 40 students and they hope to have 150 students by 2017. 40 acres of land has been allocated for the construction of a campus. Carnegie Mellon is receiving $95-million over 10 years from the Rwandan government to operate the program. First, they will offer a Master of Sciences in Information Technology then the next year they will offer a Master of Sciences in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The courses are not limited to Rwandan students. Pradeep Khosla, dean of engineering at Carnegie Mellon, said “I believe it’s the first American university to have a comprehensive graduate program on African soil that offers indistinguishable degrees.” The plan is to build infrastructure in the region.
Analysis
I am excited about Carnegie Mellon University taking this big step and the campus will be a great milestone for Africa. We always talk about how higher education is essential in building a nation of leaders and why not start in one of the nation’s most undeveloped countries. If Rwanda becomes a knowledge-based nation, they will be able to make sound drastic decisions and changes to better the country. Development in the region would allow for modernization (new technologies, innovation, etc.). The infrastructures issue would lower import and export burdens. I agree we cannot leave a billion people behind. I am glad that the Rwandan Government will be offering financial aid to its citizens. They also plan to create a business incubator to help students create their own businesses and an executive-training program, which will promote capitalism in my view. Rwanda can benefit from a University that provides a quality education.
http://chronicle.com/article/
2 comments:
This is really great, and I agree with your statement that providing higher education to underdeveloped nations is a great way to help build the country and it's leaders. I think its important that the Rwandan government step forward and offer funds and financial aid to its students, and support the programs Carnegie Mellon is planning and will set up for the future.
Yes, your comment just made me think. Though it is not technically a developed countries responsbility, the world could benefit from developed nations helping to set up quality, higher education in underdeveloped areas. Rwanda should set up help for the citizens that would surely help their ability to compete in a global economy.
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